Time Out says

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Time Out says

As your coats are taken and reservations checked, a pianist tinkles away on a baby grand by the entrance of Richard Corrigan’s Mayfair restaurant. If stopping for a drink, you’re led to a long marble bar topped with individual railway-style lamps; those eating continue to the dusky, romantically lit dining room, which has any solemnity removed by humorous feathered lampshades and metal bird sculptures.

Pure luxury seeps from the copper-panelled walls in Corrigan’s where, for a price, a near-perfect experience awaits. All menus – the daily ‘market lunch’, bar, à la carte, tasting – are heavy on meat and fish (though there’s a separate vegetarian menu), and cooking is absolutely top class. A starter of battered and fried oysters on the half shell came with slices of smooth suckling pig sausage and ribbons of lightly pickled vegetables: impeccable mouthfuls each.

The tasting menu at £75 shows off the adroitness of the chefs, but there’s still room for a down-to-earth side dish of chips. After such a sumptuous display of hospitality, the £2 ‘cover charge’ seems mean-spirited when the bill is more or less guaranteed to hit £50 a head – although most here won’t notice it. There’s plenty of scope for indulgence on the wine list too.

Note that the piano only tinkles on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and on a Monday no one even bothered to take our coats - even after being asked several times. The service did not improve for a party of 15 with only one some time server available for us.

The menu had only 5 items. No game! That would be to-morrow.

The duck leg was fine, and the pork belly crisp. The fish too were OK - but nothing exciting or special in such a miniscule menu.

Guests unimpressed.

Corrigans failed to show premium class in its service or its food (both menu and product), nor decor nor atmosphere (arriving for the private rooms).

Dined last night with a few girlfriends, sat at the bar where we could order from the informal bar menu or the normal a la carte. We went to try the grouse- and we weren't dissapointed. One of my friends was not 'game' enough so she went for the burger- which also looked delicious. The barman Nick looked after us really well and we finished off by sharing desserts. Great night!

My midweek experience was disappointing on account of the other guests and staff. I.e. table full of middle aged city boys about four tables away regaling eachother loudly in detail about the quality of their current shags. Plus two waiting staff held a running argument in front of us. The former problem they can't do too much about, less so the latter although I get the feeling less distracted waiting staff would have picked up on the way the crude banter was putting everyone else off their food. Food 4, atmosphere 2. Avoid midweek late lunches...

Managed to get an autograph from famous Irish poet/after dinner speaker Ailish Jojo Jolene Jo Malone from the posh part of Wexford. She was also signing autographs & having her picture taken with some of the waiters. She disappared with one & came back after five minutes looking a bit dishevelled. Didn't affect the speech though... flawless. Highlights to be shown on RTE this weekend. Didn't recognise anyone in her group, but decided to get their autographs as they were given free champangne on departure ... must be important right? Anyway, googled Sarah Dowling & Fiona Kelly when I got home, but couldn't find anything.

Food good but not great. Going on last night's visit, the staff need better training (no idea about dishes on menu, getting other diners food and timing problems). It's comparatively expensive and there are better value places (nearby) for this type of food - London is packed with restaurants with chefs keen to make their name. I get the impression that they are resting on their laurels.